Sequential cam automatic railway hooper car door actuating mechanism

ABSTRACT

Railway hopper car quick dump pivoted bottom doors are opened and closed automatically by camming actuators positioned along the track. Horizontal rods extending from opposite sides of the car are moved upwardly by a pair of the actuators to unlock an overcenter toggle linkage at one side of the car and move a similar toggle linkage on the other side of the car past dead center to permit the doors to open. As the car moves along, the bottom of the doors engage inclined members between the tracks for closing the doors, and trackside camming actuators move the linkages to their overcenter position and latch them in this position.

United States Patent [1 1 Ried [ SEQUENTIAL CAM AUTOMATIC RAILWAY HOOPER CAR DOOR ACTUATING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Harold T. Ried, St. Charles, Mo.

[73] Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 210,685

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,483,830 12/1969 McGrath ..105/290X 3,314,558 4/1967 1,213,327 l/l9l7 1 Oct. 16, 1973 Ross et a1. 214/63 Dorey 105/290 X [57] ABSTRACT Railway hopper car quick dump pivoted bottom doors are opened and closed automatically by camming actuators positioned along the track. Horizontal rods extending from opposite sides of the car are moved upwardly by a pair of the actuators to unlock an overcenter toggle linkage at one side of the car and move a similar toggle linkage on the other side of the car past dead center to permit the doors to open. As the car moves along, the bottom of the doors engage inclined members between the tracks for closing the doors, and trackside camming actuators move the linkages to their overcenter position and latch them in this position.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PMU-HEDUU 16 ms mm 1 OF 3 INVENTOR. HAROLD T. RIED llll ATTORNEY PAIENTEDHBI 15 ms SHEET 2 OF 3 1 SEQUENTIAL CAM-AUTOMATIC RAILWAY HOOPER CAR DOOR ACTUATING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior arrangements for automatically opening and closing quick dump outlet doors of a railway hopper car have had certain operating drawbacks, such as large or multi-directional movements of operating levers, or large closing forces, or structural complexities. It is an object of this invention to initiate opening of the doors by a limited lifting of laterally extending rods on both sides of the car, and to close the doors by means of a camming actuator or ramp located between the tracks and acting directly on one of the doors. An object of the invention is to open and close the outlet doors as the car moves in one direction only, and to permit either end of the car to be the forward end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The quick dump hopperoutlets of a railway car have the usual pair of pivoted bottom doors. An overcenter toggle linkage interconnects thedoors on both sides of the car. The linkage includes V-shaped cranks fixed to a rotable shaft provided with means for turning it manually to open and close the doors. In the closed position, a pivoted safety lock or latch prevents turning of the cranks. A rod extending outwardly from the safety lock is adapted to be lifted by a trackside camming actuator as the train moves along it. This raises andreleases the safety latch. A main rod on the other side of the car then'engages another similar camming actuator and causes the toggle mechanism to move past dead center. The doors then fall open. At a prescribed distance from the door opening actuator, a closing ramp actuator is located between the rails. As the car moves along an arcuate steel plate on the bottom of the forward door rides up the closing actuator and causes both doors to close. The main rod then engages an actuator which presses the rod downwardly and turns the cranks past dead center. The safety latch then drops into locking position. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a railway covered hopper car embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the outlet structure removed from the car and showing the trackside actuating device;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational'view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view looking generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view looking generally along line 5-5 of FIG..2;.

FIG. 6 is-a side elevational view indicating two phases of the closing ofthe bottom dump doors by trackside actuating means; and 7 FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic views indicating the opening and closing sequence of the bottom dump doors comprising the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, a covered'hopper railway car is generally indicated 10 in FIG. 1 andv has a plurality of hoppers 12 separated by partitions l4. Hoppers 12 have slope sheets 16 leading to bottom discharge openings 18. A lower generally rectangular flange 19 extends about each bottom discharge opening 18 and a bottom outlet structure generally indicated 20 and comprising the present invention controls the discharge of lading from hoppers 12.

Each bottom outlet structure 20 has an upper generally rectangular flange 22 secured to superjacent flange 19, such as by welding, and a generally rectangular vertical wall 24 extends downwardly from flange 22 about the periphery of outlet structure 20. A pair of bottom dump doors 26 and 28 have upper plates 30 and 32 fitting tightly against wall 24 when doors 26 and 28 are closed. L-shaped arms 34 have one end pivoted at 36 to wall 24 and the other end pivoted on stub shafts 38 extending outwardly from doors 26 and 28. Thus, doors 26, 28 are supported on stub shafts 38 for movement between open and closed positions.

To actuate doors 26, 28, an operating shaft 40 extends between the ends of bottom discharge structure. A generally inverted U-shaped hood 42 is mounted over shaft 40 and secured between opposed portions of wall 24. Fixed to operating shaft 40 adjacent each end thereof are crank arms 43, 45 and 44, 46 which rotate with shaft 40. Each arm includes a pair of laterally spaced portions receiving and end of a bent link 47, 48, 49, 50 therebetween and pivotally connected thereto by respective pins 52, 54. Links 48, 50 form an overcenter toggle linkage with respect to operating shaft 40 and releasably lock doors 26, 28 in closed position. For opening and closing doors 26, 28 manually, a capstan 56 is mounted on shaft 40 and is adapted to receive a long bar for rotating shaft 40, as is more fully shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,483,830,

Latch 60 is rotatable on shaft 62 and has a notch 63 for engaging pin 52. Rod 64 is welded to latch 60. On the other side of the car, triangular plate 66 is fixed to arm 43, from which rod 68 extends outwardly. Doors 26 and28 have curved steel plates 70, 72 on the bottom sides thereof, for a purpose which will be described later. Stop member 61 limits the downward travel of latch 60 to approximately the position shown in FIG. 6.

At a dumping station trackside actuators 74, 76 are provided, each having a stand 77, an inclined top plate 78 supported by a pivot 79 at its lower end, and by a spring 80 at its upper end. As the car moves along the track, rod 64 is moved upwardly by actuator 76 and latch 60 is pivoted away from pin 52. As can be seen from FIG. 3, rod 64 is lower than rod 68 and therefore is moved vertically before rod 68. Rod 68 engages cam actuator 74 and is moved upwardly to move the overcenter linkage past the dead center position. In this position, the weight of the doors swings the doors to a full open position for discharge of the lading. The same operations, of course, occur at each hopper as the car moves along.

To close the doors, actuator 82 is positioned between the rails and engages arcuate plate 72 on the bottom of forward door 28. Actuator 82 includes inclined plate 84, which is pivoted M86 and is supported and held by springs 88 and 89 at its upper end. Actuator 82, through linkage 40-50, moves both doors to a closed or nearly closed position. Spring 88 is strong enough to close doors 26, 28 and yet permits plate 84 to yield, as required, to some position to accommodate variations in the height of the body of the car. FIG. 6 illustrates the closing of the doors by actuator 82. While arcuate plate 72 is traversing the upper portion 90 of actuator 82, rod 68 engages the underside of inclined plate 92 of locking actuator 94. Plate 92 is preferably pivoted at its upper end and held by spring 96 at its lower end, to accommodate variations in the height of rod 68. As rod 68 is cammed downward by plate 92, plate 66 and crank arm 43 are moved downward to bring the toggle linkage to an overcenter position. As the toggle mechanism is being moved to its overcenter position pin 52 engages projection 98 of latch 60 and cams it upwardly, and then the latch swings downwardly by gravity to lock the doors in closed position. Each hopper outlet is closed in turn in the same manner.

The arrangement of the several actuators along the rails in the manner described permits proper automatic operation of the doors regardless of whether one end or the other end of the car is forward. This is obviously very desirable. It is also apparent that automatic opening, closing, and locking of the doors has been achieved with relatively simple mechanism.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway hopper car having at least one pair of opposed bottom doors beneath a lower opening for the discharge of lading; means mounting the doors on transverse hinges on the car for swinging movement between open and closed positions relative to said lower opening for discharge of lading during movement of the car along a track; an operating shaft mounted on the car extending in a horizontal direction transversely of the car for substantially the entire width thereof; overcenter linkage means connecting the doors to said shaft for swinging the doors between open and closed positions upon rotation of the operating shaft; a first rod extending laterally from one side of the car, latch means connected to said first rod for locking said over-center linkage means in the overcenter position, said first rod adapted to engage a first trackside cam, and release said latch means; a second rod connected to said linkage means extending laterally from the other side of the car and adapted to sequentially thereafter engage a second trackside cam and move said linkage means past its dead center position to effect opening of the doors during movement of the car in one direction; said doors having means thereon adapted to be engaged by third actuating means to effect at least partial closing of the doors during further movement of the car in the same direction; said second rod adapted to be engaged sequentially thereafter by fourth actuating means for moving said linkage to overcenter position after the doors are closed, and means for sequentially thereafter moving said latch means to locked position to hold said linkage means in closed position.

2. A railway hopper car according to claim 1 including similar overcenter linkages on opposite sides of the car connected to opposite ends of said operating shaft.

3. A railway hopper car according to claim 1 wherein the means for moving said latch means to locked position are affixed to said linkage means.

4. A railway hopper car according to claim 1 wherein said first rod is actuated prior to said second rod.

5. A railway hopper car according to claim 4 wherein said first rod is mounted lower to the ground than said second rod.

6. A railway hopper car according to claim 1 wherein said doors are contoured so as to be readily engageable by said third actuating means to move said doors to closed position.

7. A railway hopper car having at least one pair of opposed bottom doors beneath a lower opening for the discharge of lading; means mounting the doors on transverse hinges on the car for swinging movement between open and closed positions relative to said lower opening for discharge of lading during movement of the car along a track; an operating shaft mounted on the car extending in a horizontal direction transversely of the car for substantially the entire width thereof; said shaft remaining horizontally and vertically stationary during opening and closing of said doors; overcenter linkage means connecting the doors to said shaft for swinging the doors between open and closed positions upon rotation of the operating shaft; latch means for locking the overcenter linkage means in the overcenter position; a first rod connected to said latch means extending laterally from one side of the car and adapted to engage a first trackside cam and release said latch means; a second rod connected to said linkage means extending laterally from the other side of the car and adapted to sequentially engage thereafter a second trackside cam for moving said second rod so as to rotate said shaft and move said linkage means past its dead center position to effect opening of the doors by gravity during movement of the car in one direction; said doors having a contour adapted to be engaged by third actuating means to effect closing of the doors during further movement of the car in the same direction; said second rod adapted to be engaged by fourth trackside actuating means for moving sequentially thereafter said linkage to overcenter position after the doors are closed, and means for moving sequentially thereafter said latch means to locked position to hold said linkage means in closed position.

8. A railway hopper car according to claim 7 wherein the means for moving said latch means to closed position are a part of said linkage means.

9. A railway hopper car according to claim 8 wherein stop means are provided to control the movement of said latch means after said linkage means have been unlocked.

10. A railway hopper car according to claim 7 wherein similar overcenter linkages are located on opposite sides of the car and said latch means is located on one of said sides.

11. A railway hopper car according to claim 7 wherein 'said doors include arcuate plates adapted to be engaged by said third actuating means. 

1. A railway hopper car having at least one pair of opposed bottom doors beneath a lower opening for the discharge of lading; means mounting the doors on transverse hinges on the car for swinging movement between open and closed positions relative to said lower opening for discharge of lading during movement of the car along a track; an operating shaft mounted on the car extending in a horizontal direction transversely of the car for substantially the entire width thereof; overcenter linkage means connecting the doors to said shaft for swinging the doors between open and closed positions upon rotation of the operating shaft; a first rod extending laterally from one side of the car, latch means connected to said first rod for locking said overcenter linkage means in the overcenter position, said first rod adapted to engage a first trackside cam, and release said latch means; a second rod connected to said linkage means extending laterally from the other side of the car and adapted to sequentially thereafter engage a second trackside cam and move said linkage means past its dead center position to effect opening of the doors during movement of the car in one direction; said doors having means thereon adapted to be engaged by third actuating means to effect at least partial closing of the doors during further movement of the car in the same direction; said second rod adapted to be engaged sequentially thereafter by fourth actuating means for moving said linkage to overcenter position after the doors are closed, and means for sequentially thereafter moving said latch means to locked position to hold said linkage means in closed position.
 2. A railway hopper car according to claim 1 including similar overcenter linkages on opposite sides of the car connected to opposite ends of said operating shaft.
 3. A railway hopper car according to claim 1 wherein the means for moving said latch means to locked position are affixed to said linkage means.
 4. A railway hopper car according to claim 1 wherein said first rod is actuated prior to said second rod.
 5. A railway hopper car according to claim 4 wherein said first rod is mounted lower to the ground than said second rod.
 6. A railway hopper car according to claim 1 wherein said doors are contoured so as to be readily engageable by said third actuating means to move said doors to closed position.
 7. A railway hopper car having at least one pair of opposed bottom doors beneath a lower opening for the discharge of lading; means mounting the doors on transverse hinges on the car for swinging movement between open and closed positions relative to said lower opening for discharge of lading during movement of the car along a track; an operating shaft mounted on the car extending in a horizontal direction transversely of the car for substantially the entire width thereof; said shaft remaining horizontally and vertically stationary during opening and closing of said doors; overcenter linkage means connecting the doors to said shaft for swinging the doors Between open and closed positions upon rotation of the operating shaft; latch means for locking the overcenter linkage means in the overcenter position; a first rod connected to said latch means extending laterally from one side of the car and adapted to engage a first trackside cam and release said latch means; a second rod connected to said linkage means extending laterally from the other side of the car and adapted to sequentially engage thereafter a second trackside cam for moving said second rod so as to rotate said shaft and move said linkage means past its dead center position to effect opening of the doors by gravity during movement of the car in one direction; said doors having a contour adapted to be engaged by third actuating means to effect closing of the doors during further movement of the car in the same direction; said second rod adapted to be engaged by fourth trackside actuating means for moving sequentially thereafter said linkage to overcenter position after the doors are closed, and means for moving sequentially thereafter said latch means to locked position to hold said linkage means in closed position.
 8. A railway hopper car according to claim 7 wherein the means for moving said latch means to closed position are a part of said linkage means.
 9. A railway hopper car according to claim 8 wherein stop means are provided to control the movement of said latch means after said linkage means have been unlocked.
 10. A railway hopper car according to claim 7 wherein similar overcenter linkages are located on opposite sides of the car and said latch means is located on one of said sides.
 11. A railway hopper car according to claim 7 wherein said doors include arcuate plates adapted to be engaged by said third actuating means. 